Takejirō Tokonami
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
politician who served as Home Minister
of Japan and Railway Minister
. Tokonami was born January 1897 in Kagoshima, and later attended the law school at the University of Tokyo
. Throughout his political career, he served in numerous governmental positions, including the governorship of two provinces, ministerships and terms in the Diet of Japan
, where he headed multiple political parties. Tokonami died in 1935.
.
and reformist-conservative view towards social reform.
from April 24, 1908 to June 12, 1908, after having previously served as governor of Tokushima Prefecture
in 1904 and 1905.
merged to form the Rikken Minseito
.
After leaving his former political parties, Tokonami joined the Rikken Seiyūkai
party in 1929. In 1932, Tokonami campaigned for head of the party, but was persuaded by party elders to drop out and allow the current Prime Minister
Kisaburo Suzuki to remain party head. When Prime Minister Keisuke Okada
choose Tokonami for one of the Rikken Seiyūkai's three ministry seats in 1934, it discredited the head of the party, as Tokonami belonged to a group of politicians which opposed him. The Rikken Seiyūkai began to expel all members who supported Tokonami, prompting Tokonami and his supporters to form a new political party, the Showakai.
from Warlord of Manchuria
Zhang Xueliang
in 1928. He also served as Railway Minister in the 1930s.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
politician who served as Home Minister
Home Ministry (Japan)
The ' was a Cabinet-level ministry established under the Meiji Constitution that managed the internal affairs of Empire of Japan from 1873-1947...
of Japan and Railway Minister
Japanese Government Railways
The Japanese Government Railways was the national railway system directly operated by the central government of Japan until 1949. It is a predecessor of Japanese National Railways and the Japan Railways Group.- Name :...
. Tokonami was born January 1897 in Kagoshima, and later attended the law school at the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
. Throughout his political career, he served in numerous governmental positions, including the governorship of two provinces, ministerships and terms in the Diet of Japan
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
, where he headed multiple political parties. Tokonami died in 1935.
Life
Tokonami was born in Kagoshima in January 1897. He graduated from the University of Tokyo law school, later becoming a judge. Tokonami died in 1935 and was buried at Tama Rein Cemetery in Fuchū, TokyoFuchu, Tokyo
is a city located in western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 255,394 and a population density of 8,700 persons per km². The total area was 29.34 km²...
.
Political career
Tokonami was involved in several government agencies throughout his career, and served in the leadership of different political parties. He also helped found multiple political parties, including the Kyōchōkai, which took a Neo-ConfucianistNeo-Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism is an ethical and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, that was primarily developed during the Song Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Ao in the Tang Dynasty....
and reformist-conservative view towards social reform.
Governorships
Tokonami served as the third Director of the Karafuto Agency, governing the Karafuto PrefectureKarafuto Prefecture
, commonly called South Sakhalin, was the Japanese administrative division corresponding to Japanese territory on Sakhalin from 1905 to 1945. Through the Treaty of Portsmouth, the portion of Sakhalin south of 50°N became a colony of Japan in 1905...
from April 24, 1908 to June 12, 1908, after having previously served as governor of Tokushima Prefecture
Tokushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is the city of Tokushima.- Tokushima Prefecture and Myodo Prefecture :Long ago, Tokushima City belonged to a region known as Myōdō-gun...
in 1904 and 1905.
Home Ministry
Appointed vice-minister of the Home Ministry in 1906, Tokonami later became Home Minister. While vice-minister, Tokonami arranged a conference between Japanese Buddhist and Christian leaders in February 1912.Diet
Tokonami served as a member of the Diet of Japan in the 1920s and 1930s, where he was the leader of the Seiyu Honto party. He continued to serve in a leadership role when the Seiyu Honto and KenseikaiKenseikai
The was a short-lived political party in the pre-war Empire of Japan.The Kenseikai was founded on 10 October 1916, as a merger of the Rikken Doshikai , Chuseikai and the Koyu Kurabu...
merged to form the Rikken Minseito
Rikken Minseito
was one of the main political parties in pre-war Empire of Japan. It was commonly known as the 'Minseitō'.The Minseitō was founded on 1 June 1927, by a merger of the Kenseikai and the Seiyu Hontō political parties. Its leadership included Osachi Hamaguchi, Wakatsuki Reijirō, Yamamoto Tatsuo, ...
.
After leaving his former political parties, Tokonami joined the Rikken Seiyūkai
Rikken Seiyukai
The was one of the main political parties in the pre-war Empire of Japan. It was also known simply as the ‘Seiyūkai'Founded on September 15, 1900 by Itō Hirobumi , the Seiyūkai was a pro-government alliance of bureaucrats and former members of the Kenseitō. The Seiyūkai was the most powerful...
party in 1929. In 1932, Tokonami campaigned for head of the party, but was persuaded by party elders to drop out and allow the current Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Kisaburo Suzuki to remain party head. When Prime Minister Keisuke Okada
Keisuke Okada
was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, politician and the 31st Prime Minister of Japan from 8 July 1934 to 9 March 1936.-Early life:Okada was born in what is now Fukui Prefecture to an ex-samurai family. He attended the 15th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, graduating 7th out of...
choose Tokonami for one of the Rikken Seiyūkai's three ministry seats in 1934, it discredited the head of the party, as Tokonami belonged to a group of politicians which opposed him. The Rikken Seiyūkai began to expel all members who supported Tokonami, prompting Tokonami and his supporters to form a new political party, the Showakai.
Ministry of Communications and Railway Minister
Tokonami served as Japanese Minister of Communications in the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, he was accused of taking a bribe of 500,000 yuanChinese yuan
The yuan is the base unit of a number of modern Chinese currencies. The yuan is the primary unit of account of the Renminbi.A yuán is also known colloquially as a kuài . One yuán is divided into 10 jiǎo or colloquially máo...
from Warlord of Manchuria
Warlord era
The Chinese Warlord Era was the period in the history of the Republic of China, from 1916 to 1928, when the country was divided among military cliques, a division that continued until the fall of the Nationalist government in the mainland China regions of Sichuan, Shanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia,...
Zhang Xueliang
Zhang Xueliang
Zhang Xueliang or Chang Hsüeh-liang , occasionally called Peter Hsueh Liang Chang in English, nicknamed the Young Marshal , was the effective ruler of Manchuria and much of North China after the assassination of his father, Zhang Zuolin, by the Japanese on 4 June 1928...
in 1928. He also served as Railway Minister in the 1930s.